‘I feel very humbled’ says Nick
By FAYE ANDREWS
THE three-times world squash champion, Nick Matthew OBE, was honoured with an honorary degree by the University of Sheffield for his outstanding contribution to sport.
Matthew, who was born and still lives in Sheffield, is a three-time World Champion, three-time British Open Champion, eight-time British National Champion and double Commonwealth Games Gold medallist.
He continues to train at the Hallamshire Tennis and Squash Club in Sheffield where he has also established the Nick Matthew Squash Academy, which provides tuition and guidance for young squash players.
The former World No.1 addressed the graduating class, advising them on the importance of ‘finding their niche’.
The sporting star was among 11 esteemed recipients to receive honorary degrees alongside thousands of jubilant University of Sheffield graduates. Other recipients included The Right Honourable the Lord David Blunkett, former Education and Employment Secretary, Home Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary, and Her Excellency, Dr Amal Abdulla Al Qubaisi, the first female President of the United Arab Emirates Federal National Council.
On receiving the honour (on Monday July 18, 2016) Nick said: “It means the world. I’m standing alongside people who have grafted for years and years for this honour today and it’s quite humbling. To stand alongside people in politics, engineering and medicine and I chase a ball around a box for a living so it’s very humbling but such an honour at the same time.”
Nick Matthew OBE is three-times World Squash Champion, double Commonwealth Games singles champion and eight-times British National champion.
The One Health Nick Matthew Squash Academy is based at Hallamshire Tennis and Squash Club in Sheffield and is the pinnacle of the Apex Squash and Racquetball Coaching Programme at the club. For more information go to www.hallamshiretennis.co.uk
Pictures courtesy of The Emilia Group